NEW YORK -- The Hawk first-round playoff series against the Nets has shifted to Brooklyn for Games 3 and 4.
In the first two games of the series, the Hawks have done a very good job limiting Nets' Deron Williams. The point guard has a combined 15 points, including a two-point Game 2 on just 1 of 7 shooting.
I asked Coach Mike Budenholzer before Game 3 how much of the credit for limiting Williams goes to Jeff Teague and how much to the team-defense concept.
"The way the league has evolved, there are so many pick-and-rolls that it really becomes just a team concept, such a team effort," Budenholzer said. "He is such a great pick-and-roll player. The guy on the ball, at the end of the day, has a job and had some responsibilities. He's got to get it started. I think between Jeff and Dennis (Schroder) and maybe DeMarre (Carroll), Kent (Bazemore), different guys had that first line of defense.
"We need to get better there but I think there have been a lot of positives."
Also:
* Budenholzer said all players, except Thabo Sefolosha, are available.
* Budenholzer was asked about the team's return to New York for the first time since the Pero Antic and Sefolosha arrests earlier this month.
"We are trying to keep our routine, on the court and off the court, as close to normal as possible," Budenholzer said. "We've got guys that are very mature, very responsible. I think they are all in a good place and know how important what is happening is. We are just going about our business."
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